Door for fire-alarm boxes.



PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

F. G. CAMPBELL.

DOOR FOR FIRE ALARM BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.31, 1906.

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F. G. CAMPBELL. DOOR FOR FIRE ALARM BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.31, 1906.

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UNITED STATES FRANK G. CAMPBELL, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

DOOR FOR FIRE-ALARM BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed October 31,1905. Serial No- 285,351.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK G. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Doors for Fire-Alarm Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a keyless door for fire alarm boxes and has for its object the provision of a device of this character adapted to be applied to the fire alarm boxes which are now in use and so constructed that the main alarm mechanism will be set in motion when a member located upon the exterior of the box is actuated.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which now follows.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fire alarm box having my improved kcyless door applied thereto, certain of the mechanism being illustrated in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is an elevation of said door looking at the inner face thereof; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a glass holding slide which will be hereinafter described; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a locking slide, which will be hereinafter described; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through a portion of the inner and outer doors of the box, illustrating a door actuating spring, hereinafter described; Fig. 6 is a cross section of the main alarm controlling handle; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of alarm controlling handle and lover; Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the construction of the forward or tip end of said lever; Fig. 9 is a view looking at the inner face of a fire alarm box door and illustrating a modified form of the device; Fig. 10 is a horizontal section upon line lO- lO of Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the path of movement of the alarm controlling lever with relation to the path of movement of a member connected to the alarm mechanism.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The devices set forth in the accompanying drawings are designed to serve the same purpose as those set forth in the patent to L. Campbell 763,042, issued June 21st, 1904.

At the present time there arc two principal forms of alarm actuating devices in use. One of these forms is shown by the hook of the patent above cited and the other form is illustrated in the present application.

While the mechanism of the fire alarm boxes now in use performs its duty admirably when it has been properly set in motion, it has been found that persons ignorant of the operation of said boxes often make mistakes in trying to set the alarm mechanisms of the boxes in motion. In many instances persons leave the box without setting the alarm mechanism in motion at all, under the impression that the turning of the key to unlock the box, sends in the alarm.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a fire alarm box having the usual inner box 6 containing the main alarm mechanism, mounted therein. Enough of the main alarm mechanism has been illustrated in Fig. 11 to show the relation of this invention thereto. In said figure the numeral 7 designates a toothed sector, mounted upon a shaft 8. This sector meshes with a pinion 9 mounted upon a shaft 10, which carries the usual revoluble circuit breaker (not shown), which causes an electric alarm to be sounded at fire alarm headquarters.

The above described devices form no part of the present invention and are only illustrated to show the manner in which the present invention acts to set said alarm mechanism in motion when a handle upon the exterior of the fire alarm box is actuated.

Secured to an extension 11 carried by the sector 7 is a weight 12 adapted to actuate the sector in one direction.

The alarm controlling mechanism just described is lo cated in the usual inner box and an arm 13 is secured to shaft 8 and is provided with a laterally disposed pin or knob 14 which extends through a slot 15 formed in the door of the inner box. All of the mechanism so far described is of the usual and well known construction. Many thousand of these boxes are in use in this country at this time. At this time, however, it is necessary for a person who desires to turn in an alarm of fire over one of these boxes, to open the door of the main box and actuate arm 13 by pressing upon pin or knob 14. Fire alarm boxes are arranged to repeat the alarm several times. In order to do this it is necessary that the knob or pin 14 be pressed all the way down to the bottom of the slot 15 to thereby actuate shaft 8 to raise weight 12 to a sufficient height to rotate the circuit breaker a sufficient number of times as the weight returns to its normal position.

Coming now more particularly to the means which I have devised for actuating the kuob 14, and referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the numeral 16 designates a handle fast upon a shaft 17 which projects through the door 18 of the main box. This door is hinged, as is shown at 19, and is provided with the usual lock 20. This lock is similar to an ordinary spring latch lock, except that the bolt 21 thereof is extended as at 22 for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. The shaft 17 passes through door 18 and has secured to its inner end an arm 23, to the free end of which is secured one end of a link 24. The opposite end of said link is pivoted at 25 to an alarm controlling lever 26, pivoted at 27 to the door 18. As is illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the free end of this lever overlies knob 14 when handle 16 is in its normal position and the door is closed. Pivoted at 28 to the inner face of the door of the box is a door controlling lever 29, the upper end of which is provided with a cam face 30 adapted to be engaged by a cam 31, carried upon the end of arm 23. A pin 32, carried by bolt 21 lies adjacent the lower end of lever 29. A bowed spring 33 is secured in an insulating block 34 carried upon the inner face of door 18 and bears against the door 35 of the inner box and normally tends to force door 18 open. Se cured upon the outer face of said door is a trough like locking slide 36, open at one end as at 37, and having a leaf spring 38 secured to the bottom thereof by screws 39. A second trough like slide 40 open as at 41 or at the end opposite to which slide 36 is open, has a notch 42 formed in its lower face. A groove 43 is formed in the lower face of handle 16. A glass plate 44 is placed in slide 40, the upper edge of said glass being started in groove 43, after which said glass plate is slid into the position illustrated in Fig. 1, at which time slide 40 has moved into such position that the free end of spring 38 may engage the shoulder 45 formed by notch 42 to prevent removal of said plate by unauthorized persons. A key hole 46 provides means for the insertion of a key to actuate bolt 21 in the usual manner, when it is desired to permit an inspector or other official to obtain access to the interior of the box without actuating the alarm mechanism.

The operation of the form of the device just described is as follows: When a person desires to turn in an alarm over a fire alarm box provided with this improved keyless door, he first fractures the glass plate 44 which normally holds lever 16 against movement. Said lever may then be swung downward, thereby imparting a partial rotation to shaft 17. This movement of shaft 17 is imparted to the alarm controlling lever 26 through arm 23 and link 24. Since the end of arm 26 overlies knob 14, it follows that the depression of said lever through the connections just described will result in forcing said knob to the bottom of the slot 15. When knob 14 has been forced down the proper distance, cam 31 contacts with the cam face 30 of lever 29, rocking said lever upon its pivot 28 and causing said lever, through its contact with pin 32, to withdraw bolt 21 against the tension of spring 47 of lock 20. Door 18 may then be forced open by spring 33, the result of which will be to move lever 26 from the path of knob 14 to thereby permit said knob to return to its normal position under the action of weight 12. When it is desired to reset the box preparatory to repeating the above described operation, handle 16 is first lifted to its normal position or until it abuts against stop pin 49. The door may then be closed, the bolt 21 snapping into engagement with a flange 18 of the box to thereby hold said door in its closed position.

The numeral 50 (see Fig. 2) designates a shunt pin the withdrawal of which, upon the opening of door 18 shunts certain of the box mechanism into circuit with other of said mechanism. This shunt pin forms no part of the present invention, but is illustrated to show what relation the opening of the door of the box has to the main alarm mechanism.

In Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 a modified form of the device has been illustrated, the parts being so arranged that it is not necessary to open the door of the box when it is desired to turn in an alarm. In these figures the same reference numerals have been applied to the doors 18 and 35, shaft 1'7 and link 23, as these parts are all similar to the corresponding parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Pivoted at 52 upon the inner face of door 18 is a lever 53. Pivoted at 54 upon the outer end of said lever 53 is a finger 55 which is normally held in alinement with lever 53 by a flat spring 56, one end of which is secured as at 57 to lever 53 and the free end of which bears upon the under face of lever 55. Arm 23 and link 24 are connected to a common pivot 58 and to said pivot is connected one end of a link 59, the opposite end of which is pivoted to the short arm 60 of a bell crank lever which is pivoted at 61 to door 18. The

lower end of long arm 62 of said bell crank is slotted as at 63 for the reception of a pin 64 carried by a bar 65 which is mounted in keepers 66 carried by door 18. The forward end of this bar is provided with a cam head 67 having a working face 68, adapted to engage with a working face 69 formed upon a shunt pin 70. The shunt pin is carried by a spring contact member 71 and passes through an opening 72 formed in the inner door 35. An ordinary spring lock 73 forms means for holding the door in its closed position. The operation of this form of the device is as follows: When movement is imparted to shaft 17 as has been hereinbefore described, said movement is transmitted to lever 53 through arm 23 and link 24. Knob 14 may then be forced down as will be readily understood. Movement of pivot 58, will, through the connections described, rock the bell crank lever on pivot 61, to thereby withdraw cam head 67 from engagement with the shunt pin 70, and permit the spring contact member 71. to move into engagement with a contact member 74 to complete a circuit through wires 75 and 76.

By referring to Fig. 11 it will be seen that lever 53 and knob 14 move in different paths, so that by the time knob 14 reaches the bottom of slot 15, the divergence of the paths of movement of said lever and knob will cause the tip end of finger 55 to free itself from said knob. Knob 14 may then return to its former position under the influence of weight 12. When it is desired to reset this form of the device, the above described members are returned to their normal positions at which time finger 55 will swing upon its pivot and against the tension of spring 56, to permit end of lever 53 to pass knob 14. Said finger 55 then snaps into its original position in readiness to repeat the operation. The movement of the connections when the parts are returned to their normal position is such as to cause the bell crank lever to move bar 65 to the right in Figs. 9 and 10, to thereby force the cam head 67 into engagement with the shunt pin, as will be readily understood.

The construction of outer end of lever 53 and finger 55 is clearly illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. By referring to said figures it will be seen that lever 53 is undercut at in such manner as to form a web 81 to which the bifurcated end of finger 55 is pivoted. This construction provides a shoulder 82 against which the face 83 of finger 55 bears when the knob 14 is being pulled down.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated the handle 16 and the lever 53 mounted upon the same shaft. This construction may be used if desired. It will operate well but involves the necessity of moving the actuating handle a distance equal to the movement of knob 14. By the construction set forth in Figs. 1 and 2 the method of pivoting the levers is such that the movement of the actuating handle is not nearly as great as the movement of the knob 14. The numeral'84 designates a local alarm casing 'in which is mounted a local alarm mechanism preferably of the spring actuated type. 85 designates a member carried by the door of the box and adapted to release the local alarm when the door is opened. This local alarm forms no part of the present invention but is illustrated for the purpose of showing some form of local alarm in combination with the other elements herein set forth.

The local alarm, in the form of the device shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, is controlled by a slidable bolt 90, mounted in keepers 91. As long as the members are in their normal position, this bolt is held in an elevated position to engage the local alarm, by lever 53 with which it coni acts. When the lever 53 is pulled down, bolt 90 is permitted to move downwardly to release the local alarm and permit the same to sound.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple, eflicient and inexpensive means are herein provided whereby the main alarm mechanism of this particular form of fire alarm box may be actuated by a member mounted upon the exterior of said box. It is possible to apply a new door containing the herein described members to the old boxes without altering said boxes in the least. This is of course, an important consideration in cities where there are several thousand has cost a large sum of money and has required many years to build.

While the elements shown and described are well adapted to serve the purposes for which they are in tended, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth, for changes Within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departure from said invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A fire alarm box having an alarm controlling handle located upon the exterior thereof and a lock the belt of \vhich,is controllable'by said handle or by a key.

2. A fire alarm box having an alarm controlling handle located upon the exterior thereof and a. door controlling lock controllable by said handle and also by a key and a frangible device which normally locks said handle against movement.

3. A lire alarm box having an alarm controlling handle located upon the exterior thereof, a door controlling lock the belt of which is controllable by said handle and by a key and a local alarm controlled by the movement of the door of the box.

i. A door for fire alarm boxcs having a handle mounted upon the outer face thereof, a lever pivoted to the inner face thereof, connecting members between said handle and said lever, a frangible device which normally prevents movement o1- said handle and means for forcing the door of said box open.

5. A door for fire alarm boxes having a handle located upon the outer face thereof, an alarm controlling lever con nectcd to said handle, a door controlling lock controlled by said handle and also controlled by a key, a frangible device which normally prevents movement of said handle and means for forcing the door of the box open.

(I. A door for fire alarm boxes upon which is mounted an alarm controlling handle, an alarm controlling member connected to said handle, a frangible device engaging said handle, a door controlling lock and a door actuating spring.

7. In a fire alarm box comprising an inner and an outer hox, the combination with main alarm mechanism, of a lever located upon the exterior of the outer box, a shaft upon which said lever is mounted and which extends to the interior of the box, members connected to said shaft for setting the main alarm mechanism in motion when the lever is actuated and a frangible device normally prevent ing movement of said lever.

8. In a fire alarm box comprising an inner and an outer casing, a main alarm mechanism located in said inner cas ing and having a main alarm controlling member which projects through the door of the inner casing, a handle lo cated upon the exterior of the door of the outer casing a shaft upon which said handle is mounted which projects through said door and a lever connected to said shaft the free end of which overlies the main alarm controlling member.

9. In a fire alarm box comprising an inner and an outer casing, a main alarm mechanism located in said inner casing and having a main alarm controlling member which projects through the door of the inner casing, a handle located upon the exterior of the door ofthe outer casing, a shaft upon which said handle is mounted and which projects through said door, a lever connected to said shaft, the free end of whiclris adapted to engage the main alarm controlling member and a frangible device which normally prevents movement of said handle.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK G. CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

R. L. Bils'r, SIGMUND .T. BLOCK. 

